Pop culture is littered with captains of all varieties, from those who sail the Seven Seas like Capt.
‘‘The Immortal Captain Jack Sparrow,’’ indeed.
Plus, you’ve gotta admit those “Bring on the Spice” commercials are pretty enticing.

Credit: Peter Mountain
Captain Kangaroo
Why we’d follow him anywhere:Multigenerational childhoods, of course.
We’ll forever salute him with a ‘‘Good morning, Captain!’’
His classic captainthe strong, but silent Malstill has us reeling over the cancellation ofFirefly.

Disney
Also, he has the single greatest nickname of anyone on the list: Captain Tight Pants.
It’s an undisputed scientific fact.
Captain & Tennille
Why we’d follow them anywhere:Smooth jams, of course.

Jay Maidment/Marvel Studios
Plus, you never saw Captain Nemo with a variety show, now, did you?
Alas, their 40-year relationshipsunk below the surfacewhen Tenille filed for divorce in 2014.
‘‘O Captain!

Diageo
And no, that’s not a tear in our eye, those arelotsof tears in our eyes.
John Miller
Why we’d follow him anywhere:Two words: ‘‘Earn this.’’
If that’s not enough to motivate you on the battlefield or elsewhere we don’t know what will.

Everett Collection
But he was a helluva storyteller and a man of his word.
It’s just too bad he wasn’t there to see it.
Jonas Grumby, a.k.a.

Everett Collection
Captain Barbossa
Why we’d follow him anywhere:Every great protagonist needs an equally awesome antagonist.
Watch what he does to get the Trident of Poseidon inDead Men Tell No Tales.
Picard, a fan favorite, is the thinking man’s hero.

Quaker
Plus, he helped propel the career ofJack Ryan.
That’s sage advice, kids!
Even adorable animated fish still pay homage to him in their own way.

Science Channel

Disney

Lucasfilm, Ltd.

Everett Collection

Touchstone Pictures

David James

NBC

Saddleback Publishing Inc.

Everett Collection

Elisabeth Caren/ABC Family

Everett Collection

Everett Collection

Peter Mountain

Paramount Television/Everett Collection (3)

Everett Collection

Everett Collection

Macmillan Publishers

Cliff Lipson/CBS